The stage was set in Crawley, as the Seagulls geared up to host the Cityzens at Broadfield Stadium for the second clash of Super Sunday. 

Gareth Taylor’s Manchester City would look to bounce back after what was a forgettable week of cup action last week for the Cityzens. Taylor’s City outfit remains unchanged from their Tottenham defeat last Sunday, as Mary Fowler retains her starting position in the side.

As for the hosts, Mikey Harris’s Brighton & Hove Albion side would be eager to revive their form after falling to a hefty defeat on home turf last weekend at the hands of Manchester United.

BHA: Baggaley; Thorrisdottir, Bergsvand, Losada, Zigiotti, Terland, Carabali, Kullberg, Pinto, Haley, Robinson

MCI: Keating; Aleixandri, Greenwood, Casparij, Ouahabi, Coombs, Park, Hasegawa, Hemp, Fowler, Shaw

Play was underway in Crawley, as the hosts got proceedings started from the centre spot.

It was the visitors who would provide the first real chance of the afternoon, as Lauren Hemp claimed the wide territory with conviction. Despite her best efforts, the angle proved too difficult for the winger as Sophie Baggaley collected her strike with ease.

The hosts looked well organised in the press, causing troubles for the Cityzens last line. Though it wouldn’t be for long, as Jess Park carried possession brilliantly through the field’s central areas. Park placed a well weighted line break to split the Seagulls defence, as an advancing Hemp charged the space. Hemp’s strike was well hit, though it was ultimately a blunder from Baggaley between the posts that sent the net rippling.

The visitors looked to double their advantage as the clock ran down on the opening half, as Mary Fowler delivered a pin point cross into the danger zone. Despite finding the penalty spot well, her cross was answered with no effect.

Manchester City continued to assert their dominance as Kerstin Casparij found herself in unusual territory inside of the final third. Working well to evade her markers, the Dutch defender sent her strike flying from distance. Despite her best efforts from range, Baggaley managed to palm away Casparij’s attempt.

Though the sigh of relief would be a small exhale from the Seagulls, as Manchester City continued to press on. Lauren Hemp asserted her dominance down the wing once again, before sending a brilliant cross to an unmarked Fowler at the back post. The Australian made no mistake in sending the net rippling for City’s second of the afternoon.

The two goal advantage would remain in favour of the Cityzens as the whistle blew to signify the end of the first term at Broadfield Stadium.

Play was back underway at Broadfield Stadium, as Manchester City searched to add a further blow to the wings of the Seagulls. Hemp searched for a brace on the edge of the area, as she let a rocket fly from distance. Her strike looked likely to find the right side, before being narrowly denied by the goalpost.

The Cityzens marched on, as Laura Coombs was found in space on the edge of the area, though her strike from distance was cleared away from danger by Carabali.

The visitors completely dominated the contest, controlling the tempo in all areas across the field’s surface. Yui Hasegawa catalysed a promising attack down the field’s spine, before finding the feet of an advancing Coombs. Coombs’s attempt to find feet blundered in execution, as the Seagulls cleared the play away from danger.

Bunny Shaw looked to find her opportunity, before being brought down by Joelyn Carabali on the edge of the area. Alex Greenwood curled her strike well, though Baggaley’s stretching effort saw the Manchester City defender’s attempt cleared away.

Matters only became worse for the hosts, as a short corner saw the ball given off to Hasegawa in space. The Japanese international made no mistake with her delivery, finding Shaw with pin point excellence as the City striker headed home the third of the afternoon.

A further blow was landed by the fist of the visitors as the clock ran into it’s final ten minutes, catalysed by Fowler on the advance. The Australian made no mistake in picking out Coombs on the penalty spot, as the City number 7 sent the net rippling for a fourth.

After an unimpressive performance in Crawley, the hosts were able to get one back in the dying moments of the game. Elisabeth Terland found Veatriki Sarri in the wide channel, before the Greek striker delivered a well-timed ball inside of the area. Lee Geum-Min delivered the final touch, to bring the deficit to a trilogy at Broadfield Stadium.

Return to their usual dominance did the Cityzens, as the final whistle blew at Broadfield Stadium to put pen to paper on a 4-1 victory on the road. The emphatic performance sees Gareth Taylor’s side rejoin Chelsea at the summit of the league table, only the single goal separating the two teams at the top.